Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1887-09-17
Randolph. Miss.
EDITOR OF THE APPEAL:

EDITOR OF THE APPEAL:
Your valuable journal makes its APP
pearance promptly every week and
hope that in the near future will find us
in possession of good results which may
be derived from the labors of those
PATRIOTS who SO ardently displayed their
philanthropy at the national Colored
Press convention which met in Louis
vile, KY, on the 10th of August. i
that the principles for the promotion Of
which they met will not fall stingless at
the feet Of those anti philanthropists,
but will triumph over all adversely. We
think that the bona fde citizens of this
state are in favor of a compulsory sys-
tenn Of education, for the future well
being OF the people of this state, we
hope that the legislature will, in the
near future, pass such law. We need
it. The legislature took steps to pass
such law last winter.
We still hold to our belief, that ignor-
apce is governed by tho lash, while in
telligence is governed by reason. We
think that there is sufficient money col
lected in the state of Mississippi to
school every child between the ages 81
and q years in each school district al
least six months in each year, but owing
to indifference, lack Of clothing or other
fiimsy excuses, parents neglect to senC
their children to the public free schools
the result is degradation, wretchedness,
poverty, etc. AS we expressed it in oul
motto, ignorance is governed by the
lash. We know that the new school Law
of this state is some better than the ole
one was, yet we think that tie new one
could be ameliorated little. We bes
all law makers and legislators and all il
authority to formulate such laws as vii
compel the attendance of every child
white and colored to attend our free
schools. The answer comes back to us
from many of the school districts thai
they scarcely have any school. I have
wondere ed why our. legislature or con.
gress have not taken proper steps III
this direction. One answer presents it.
self to my mind, and it is this, that Sc
many love whisky. Now, Whisky has
been IN use for many, many years, and
what has been the result? It has been
the means of making homes desolate and
wives widows and children orphans. II
has caused poverty, suicide, murder
robbery and thousand other evils, the
time is fast approaching when we shall
go to the ballot box and say whether
the manufacture and sale Of whisky
shall continue or not. It is a sin to de-
stroY good food i'll distilling whisky.
The brewer and distiller not only des-
troy millions of bushels of good food
but they convert it into poison. where
with to dostroythe men whom itshould
have fed. I think we must educate, or
perish by our own prosperity. If we
do not put forth every means, short will
be our race from the cradle to the grave.
Now If in our haste to become rich and
mighty, we outrun our literary and re-
ligious institutions and they will never
oyertake us. We are aware that our
ablest philanthropists are looking out
on the deep, yexed with storms,
forebedings and failing Of heart for fear
of things that are coming upon us, and
perceive spirit of impatience rising
and distrust in respect to the perpetu-
ity of our republic and am sure that
these fears are well founded. It is the
star of hope in our dark horizon. Speed
the time when we can truthfully say a
permanent school system" JIG.